Radiation oncology is the use of radiation (X-rays) to treat cancer. Radiation therapy can be used alone or in combination with medicines to effectively treat cancer, to shrink a tumor so it can be surgically removed, to treat an area after surgery to prevent recurrence, or to provide relief from pain and other cancer symptoms.
Our Radiation Oncology program at Valley-Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Care is led by nationally recognized physicians who use the latest technology to target and treat cancer. Along with the rest of your medical team at Valley, we’ll make sure you’re getting the safest and most effective cancer care available.
The Valley Approach to Radiation Oncology
Radiation oncologists at Valley coordinate care with the rest of your cancer team, including medical oncology; surgery; clinical trials; rehabilitation medicine; social services; home care; genetic counseling; food and nutrition; and more.
A focus on patient safety is a key part of our team approach at Valley. Any radiation procedures you have will go through a rigorous quality assurance process to ensure you receive accurate and appropriate treatment.
Our focus on safety means we continually invest in the latest radiation technology. It also means we offer specialized techniques that minimize your radiation exposure, such as surface guided radiation therapy (SGRT) and image guided radiation therapy (IGRT).
Why Choose Valley for Radiation Oncology
- Recognized excellence: Valley’s Radiation Oncology Department is accredited through the American College of Radiology (ACR). And, we have earned the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO) Accreditation Program for Excellence (APEx®).
- Highly precise forms of radiation therapy: Our team uses radiation therapy treatments that offer highly precise radiation, while minimizing damage to healthy cells. These include surface guided radiation therapy (SGRT), image guided radiation therapy (IGRT), intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT); stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) through Gamma Knife; and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) through TrueBeam.
- Shortened radiation treatments: We understand that convenience is important, so we offer our patients the most effective treatment in the shortest time. That’s why we developed the Think Five protocol for prostate cancer that delivers high-dose radiation in five visits vs. the typical course of up to 45 treatments.
- Next-generation technology: We are the first hospital on the east coast to offer new technology — ExacTrac Dynamic by Brainlab — that offers unmatched accuracy. This system allows your doctor to incorporate additional views from both outside (surface guided radiation therapy) and inside (image-guided radiation therapy) your body when delivering radiation. Your doctors will be able to see your body’s natural movements (such as during breathing) in relation to your tumor in real-time through high-resolution surface and thermal imaging. This ensures your treatment is precise to within millimeters — resulting in less treatment time and a potential decrease in side effects.
- Clinical trials: Radiation oncologists at Valley are involved in important research. Together with our affiliation with Mount Sinai Health System, we give our patients access to leading-edge treatments before they are available anywhere else through clinical trials. We work with organizations such as NRG Oncology and the SWOG Cancer Research Network.
- Specialized nursing care: At Valley, nursing care addresses the physical, psychological, social and educational needs of our patients and their families. This begins with the initial consultation where you’ll learn about the radiation oncology process and self-care measures to minimize side effects. Oncology-certified registered nurses are available daily to answer questions, manage symptoms and address fears.
